The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-22
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once, Nos. 20 and 81 Fourteenth Street.
sClsAp OF LOCAL HISTORY.
Sketch of Daniel Sullivan, the Celebrated
Latt. Scout and Hanger. #l..
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The fact that no ono was killed, and bu
one man was wounded at the last siego o
Fort Henry, among la bravo defenders
and that Of the enemy several were kille,
and more were wounded, awakened q do
alre within mo to know something con
corning the character and history Of th,
only one among those In the fort at th'
time who suffered any misfortune per
sonally. HI#
Alter much inquiry have been enable,
to gather some facts Of n general character
which l deem entirely reliable, as til,
source from which they are derived Is un
impeachable.
! Tho name OF the individual, and TIL
only one who was wounded OF the alegt
Of the fort, as already indicated, wa!
Daniel Sullivan, ono Of tho most celebrated
scouts and daring rangers Of his day. The
romantic history Of this man and his char
acteristic bravery demands moro than {
passing thought, and calls for more. ex
tended notice. r
He was born on Tho present site Of tht
city OF Pittsburgh in the year 1853. Al
the early Ggo OF 8 years, he, together with
boy by tho name OF Cunningham wat
captured by the Indians In ono Of theil
| frequent predatory excursions into the
infantile American settlements, and by
them carried away into one OF their towns
whore they Boon became assimilated In
their habits, customs aud manner to those
oil their captors.
During period Of fvo or ak years
while they remained there, nothing oil
very great interest occurred 10 disturb the
monotony Of the life which characterized
the savage community In which they
dwell. Their sporta aud pas!imes were
similar to those INDUCED in by the Indian
youth in whose company they were
thrown and consisted Of hunting, fishing
and the rude games Of the forest in which
the two Boon became adepts-particularly
Sullivan. At the expiration Of the time
above mentioned, portion OF the tribe
(peace then prevailing between the
whites and Indians) visited the settle.
ment at Pittsburgh for tho purpose OF trad.
ing, securing ammunition &C., and were
accompanied on their errand by Sullivan
and Cunningham.
On their arrival at Fort Pitt, notwith.
standing their Indian disguise their iden-
tity was discovered and recognized, and
one Zsdoc Wright, q relative Of young
Sullivan, then living on the east side Of the
Ohio river, about ten miles below Fort Pitt,
was Immediately sent for, and promptly
responded to tho summons. BE Mt once
entered upon negotiations for the boys,
who in all respects had become assimila.
led to their Indian friends in dress, dispo.
sition and inclinations, having been adop.
ted by the tribe into whose hands they
had fallen.
But little difficulty wes experienced in
securing the release OF the Cunningham
boy who had become tired OF his savage
mode Of lite, and readily seconded the
efforts OF his friends to secure his rsiease
But this was not the case with "Dan," 81
Sullivan waB called who had become at
tached to Ravsge life, and who was re-
garded by bis Indian friends with great
favor and esteem. Hence the parley ovel
Sullivan between the Chief and Wright q.
| to SullivRn's rGnsom was prolonged anc
tedious, and several timcs threatened t
prove failure. The demands upon til.
part Of the former were exorbitsnt, ap(
he receded from several agreements JUS
prior to their final contamination. FINALLY
q horne, q pack saddle, half dozen hatch
cts, three red blankets and o gallon O
whisky settlsd the trade go lar as the Chic
and Wright was concerned.
Dan, who WAS lad OF fifteen years o
age, had all this time been demure ant
silent spectator ofthe proceedings, but va!
by no means an Indifferent one. Hence
when he was informed OF the faality O.
the transaction and that the necessary
arrangements had been completed for hin
to return to his kindred, he sedately man
Tested his opposition by negative SHAKE
OF his head, thus declaring his intention
to remsin with his Indian friendu. III
This resolution produced . temporary
embarrassment which required the exer
cise Of much tact and skill to surmount
and various wero the e1pedients resortet
to for tho purpose Of etecting change
in the determination to which the boy
had arrived. To accomplish this much
time WIS spent; but an agreement WI
finally arrived at by which the boy stipu
lated that II Wright would then and there
purchase for him bearer hat, he woult
iorsake his savage life and return to the
society OF the whites. The proposition
Was accepted without further delay. Al
that period beaver hats were expensive
luxuries as compared with the ordinary
head.wear. Believing that he was sub
stantially complying with the terms O
the agreement, Wright purchased fol
him wool hat, tho price Of which wat
ono dollar, and presented 1t TO "Dan,'
who bestowed on it a cursory glance ani
in terms Of brief, but supreme contempt
he enunciated his dissatisfaction as he re-
turned it to the giver in the curt phrase
ram beaver" Finally genuine beaver
hat was obtained and substituted Tor the
obnoxious tile, which filed "Dan" with
evident delight, and the transaction wa
concluded and the two boys vera restored
to their gratiiied. and happy families, bu
"Dan," when called upon to part com
pany with his Indian friends, relinquishet
their compsnionship and society with
great reluctance. '7
The following interesting account OF al
incident which occurred, was subsequent
ly related by them. After their capture
they experienced long and exhaustinl
march through the wilderness which occu
pied several days, when worn and wearl
with tho journey aud the many hardship
they we're compelled to encounter they q
| laet reached their destination-an Indian
town in the vicinity Of the Lakes.
After days rest they were doomed t
run gauntlet between two files Of youpl
ssvages OF All age similar to their own
each one OF whom was armed with
tough hickory switch. Upon first beini
advised as to what Jwas required of then
they were started amid loud howls ant
wild yells while blows fell thick and fast
The Cunningham boy reached the objec
tive point barely alivo and suiieringsever
| ly from castigation to which he had beer
subjected. But "Dan" as soon as he re
Iccived cut-because sofuriously angercd
that he suddenly turned upon his tormen
tor and with a well planted blow in tn,